Iran freezes US talks amid escalating tensions over Israeli aggression on Lebanon
TEHRAN, June 01 (YPA) – In a development reflecting heightened regional tensions, Iran announced on Monday that it had suspended its indirect talks with the United States conducted through a mediator, citing the continued Israeli crimes in Lebanon and ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency affirmed that the Iranian negotiating team had halted the exchange of messages with the U.S. side, arguing that continued aggression in Lebanon and Gaza had undermined the foundations of the ceasefire understandings, particularly those related to Lebanon.
According to the agency, Tehran and allied resistance groups are demanding an immediate end to Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a full withdrawal from Lebanese territory occupied by Israeli entity, maintaining that negotiations will not resume until those demands are met.
Tasnim also reported that Iran and its allies are considering a range of strategic responses, including the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the activation of other regional fronts and maritime routes, including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, in response to US-supported Israeli aggression and for it.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that any breach of the ceasefire in Lebanon constitutes a violation of the broader agreement and held both the United States and Israel responsible for any resulting consequences.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that developments in Lebanon represent ongoing violations of the ceasefire, adding that Washington and Tel Aviv cannot be viewed separately regarding events on the ground. He reaffirmed Tehran’s continued support for Lebanon and resistance groups.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also expressed concern over the situation in the region and the reported ceasefire violations, calling on the international community to take action to prevent further escalation.
For his part, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned of potential responses to continued violations, saying that accountability would eventually come, in an apparent reference to options being considered by Tehran and its allies.
The spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff likewise criticized Western silence over events in Lebanon, while the military warned Israeli occupation’s leaders and their supporters against the ongoing aggression, stating that the ongoing situation in Lebanon would not be acceptable to Iran’s armed forces.
AA